THE KING THAT COMETH IN THE
NAME OF THE LORD.
THE next day after Jesus was anointed by Mary at the house of Simon the leper, he started on his way to Jerusalem. Now there were a great many people who had come up to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of the Passover, and when they heard that Jesus was coming, they went out to meet him, bearing branches of palm-trees, as it was the custom to do when people went out to meet a conqueror.
When Jesus had come on his way to Bethphage, a half mile or more from Bethany, Jesus told two of his disciples to go over to the village, and bring him a colt that they would find tied there. He said, "If any man say unto you, Why do ye this, say, The Lord hath need of him." When they reached the place, they found a young ass tied without, by a door, in a place where two roads met. As they were untying him, some of the men who stood there said, "What do ye, loosing the colt?" but on hearing that the Lord had need of him, they raised no further objection. When the colt was brought to Jesus, they first cast their garments upon the animal's back, and then set Jesus upon him. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy found in Zech. 9:9.
Many of the people spread their garments in the way, while others cut down branches of trees, and laid them in the path for the colt to walk upon. When they had come to the descent of the Mount of Olives, the disciples, and all the multitude of people that went before and followed after him, began to rejoice and praise God for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying with a loud voice, "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."
The disciples did not think while they were doing these things, that they were fulfilling what the prophets had written about Jesus, but afterward it all came to mind.
It was the raising of Lazarus from the deal that had given Jesus such fame, and had brought so many people out to see him. The Pharisees were greatly displeased, and said among themselves, "Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold: the world is gone after him." Some of the Pharisees who were among the multitude said, "Master, rebuke thy disciples."
But Jesus said, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the atones would immediately cry out."
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes.
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."
"And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”